How to Start a Boutique Business

by Rick Suttle, Demand Media

You may be able to sell your boutique items on consignment.

Stockbroker/Valueline/Getty Images

Boutique businesses can earn their owner's big profits. The key is selling products that you enjoy or in which you have expertise. Open a women's casual clothing boutique, or sell purses, hand bags and accessories. Search various franchise opportunities through websites, including Thefranchisemall.com and Franchisegator.com. Expect to pay between $130,000 and $310,000 for a franchise, including Apricot Lane. Contact your county administration office and register your doing business as or business name.

Step 1

Find a wholesale supplier for your boutique business if you are starting from scratch, as your initial investment will be less than a franchise. Contact the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. Find out which wholesalers sell the products you need.

Step 2

Contact several wholesale suppliers. Ask your wholesaler if they offer products on consignment, according to fashion career expert Jennie S. Bev at Stylecareer.com. Try to limit your number of wholesalers to one, which will simply your ordering process. Select the wholesaler that offers you the lowest per-unit cost on items.

Find a location for your boutique business. Look for high-traffic areas in strip malls or at business corner intersections. Study the clientele in the area to make sure you are targeting middle or upper middle class customers. Select a location that also charges you a relatively low monthly rent.

Step 4

Study other boutiques in your area. Find out how much these boutiques are charging for similar products. Notice how many products competitors put on display.

Step 5

Have family members help you with your boutique initially. Employ your daughter, for example, if you are selling to female customers. Hire additional employees as needed.

Step 6

Place your first order of products a couple weeks before you open your boutique business. Set up your counters, shelving units and in-store signage. Use clear plastic shelving to boost your store's image because a sleek image will help boost your sales. Clean the floors, shelves and windows of your boutique. Coordinate various items on mannequins. Make sure your cash registers are in working order. For example, you could show how a particular coat and handbag go together. Place your business hours decals on the front door.

Step 7

Distribute fliers at business locations, including grocery stores or malls. Contact your local newspaper to see if it will write an article about your new boutique. Plan on grand opening sale with large balloons and banners. Place a classified ad in the print and online versions of your local newspaper.

Things Needed

Wholesale supplier

Clothing or products

Store location

Counters

Shelving units

Floor stands

Signage

Mannequins

Business hours decals

Cash registers

Large balloons

Banners

Fliers

Tip

Conduct occasional sales in your boutique. Hand out free gift certificates to some of your best customers. Institute a fair return policy so customers will know they can return merchandise. This will encourage people to buy gifts for people even if they are unsure about sizes. Always smile and be friendly with customers. People are more likely to patronize a retail outlet with friendly customer service.

About the Author

Rick Suttle has been writing professionally since 2009, covering health and business for various online and print publications. He has worked in corporate marketing research and as a copywriter. Suttle holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from California Coast University. He is author of the novels "Hell Year" and "Suicide Peak."

Photo Credits

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Small Business editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.